On a blustery but sunny Saturday morning, over one hundred brave souls plunged into the Brandywine Creek for a good cause. The 6th annual Brandywine Valley Association Polar Plunge was held on Saturday, February 9, the morning after a predicted snowstorm had fizzled out, leaving the banks of the creek a sloppy mud pit.
The official temperature of the water was 38 degrees as the crowd gathered in their bathing suits and various costumes, including a man dressed as the “Beast of the Brandywine.” Many folks sported “BVA 38” temporary tattoos, inked on location by John Young to commemorate their memorable feat. In the front row, a group of teenagers waited impatiently, chanting “the water looks good,” and “drop the rope!” The field of plungers was rounded out by folks of all ages, including many families. One ingenious kid, Will Debenham, documented his swim with a camera strapped to his head. (See the second video below.)
When the rope was dropped, the crowd ran into the water and raced across the river to claim prizes which sat on the opposite bank. The water appeared to be shallower than last year, but the frigid temperatures caused many plungers to turn around quickly and return to shore. With smiles on their frozen faces and teeth chattering, they scurried to find their dry clothes and scrambled towards the fire pit. Waiting family members cheered them on and held out cups of hot chocolate as a reward.
WCHE Radio Host Brynn McKenry took the plunge for the first time. She described the experience this way. “It felt like I put my body in a bucket of ice. I did not make it across, I made it up to my waist,” she said with a laugh. “It was fun, I would do it again.”
Brynn’s friend Eric Herman, of Exton, felt the wait was the hardest part.
“Once I was waiting there, my toes started to numb up and I tried jumping around to warm up but it didn’t work. Once they said you could go in, I jumped in for as long as I could, about five feet!”
Some plungers were hesitant before the event, unsure of what they may have gotten themselves into. But once they started thawing out, their enthusiasm returned.
Jim Haigney and Ellen Peters had just finished dressing in multiple layers when I caught up with them. I asked, how was the plunge?
“It’s not nearly as bad as I thought,” Jim replied.
“He did the backstroke,” Ellen added with a grin.
“I think I might do it again next year, believe it or not,” Jim said.
“Do you have that on tape?” Ellen asked with a laugh. “I’ll definitely do it next year!”
To experience the Polar Plunge, check out this video of Wes Reeser, better known as the “Beast of the Brandywine,” crossing the creek during today’s event. Video is courtesy of Wes Reeser and Andrew Keyes. Please note: Video is NSFW due to foul language.
Will Debenham shot this excellent video of his trek across the Brandywine this morning. Video courtesy of Will Debenham.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rQC0h6EraQ
The Brandywine Valley Association (BVA) hosts the Annual Brandywine Polar Plunge each year at the Brandywine Picnic Park in West Chester. The event is organized to encourage locals to get outdoors and assist in raising awareness about BVA’s conservation work in the 330 square mile Brandywine Creek Watershed.
About Brandywine Valley Association
Over the past six decades, BVA has pioneered innovative programs to improve and protect the water in the Brandywine Valley. As the leader in local watershed conservation & education, BVA offers programs for all ages and conducts environmental studies and projects to promote the restoration, preservation, conservation and enjoyment of our region’s natural resources.
